The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), an environmental and human rights advocacy group, has raised deep concern over the growing abuse of security institutions by the executive arm of government, worsening insecurity across Nigeria, the persistent mismanagement of security votes, and the glaring absence of a social safety net for vulnerable citizens.
According to the group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, noted that security agencies, who are originally established to safeguard citizens’ lives and rights, are increasingly being misused for political ends. This, it noted, manifests in the intimidation of civil society voices, harassment of opposition figures, and suppression of peaceful protests—practices that undermine Nigeria’s democratic fabric and threaten constitutional freedoms.
FENRAD also lamented the rising insecurity in nearly every region of the country. From terrorism in the North East to banditry in the North West, herder–farmer clashes in the Middle Belt, and separatist agitations in the South East, the state, it said, appears overwhelmed, with the government failing to deploy effective, lasting solutions.
The group highlighted the rampant abuse and lack of transparency in security votes—special funds allocated to federal and state executives to tackle security challenges. Despite running into billions of naira annually, these funds remain largely unaccounted for.
“Security votes are not subject to legislative oversight or public audit, and in many instances, they have become slush funds for personal enrichment or political patronage rather than tools for improving citizen safety,” FENRAD stated.
It warned that this lack of accountability fuels corruption, weakens the fight against insecurity, and diverts scarce resources away from genuine security needs and social development.
Against this backdrop of insecurity and economic hardship, FENRAD observed that millions of Nigerians continue to live without any form of social protection. Rising inflation, youth unemployment, poor access to healthcare, and food insecurity are pushing citizens into deeper poverty, yet successive governments have failed to implement a robust social security system.
FENRAD stressed that the crisis demands a bold national rethinking—expanding Nigerians’ rights to include not just civil and political liberties, but also economic, environmental, and social rights.
“No citizen should be left behind, unprotected, or unheard in a country rich in natural and human resources,” the group emphasized.
The organisation called on the Executive to end politicization of security agencies and ensure transparent management of security votes; the Legislature to pass laws mandating oversight of security spending and prioritising social protections in the national budget; anti-corruption agencies to investigate and audit security votes at both state and federal levels; Civil Society and the Media to continue exposing misuse of power, corruption, and shrinking civic space; and citizens to organize, demand accountability, and insist on systems that protect their rights and dignity.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The time to act is now. It is time to rewrite the rights—toward a just, secure, and inclusive nation,” the statement concluded.
